Instrument tip assembly having self-threading back hub

ABSTRACT

A actuating instrument including an instrument tip assembly having a yoke attachment thread. The actuating instrument also includes an actuator having an actuating shaft. The actuating shaft is provided with a first thread within the actuating shaft and a second thread provided on the actuating shaft. Further, the first thread is connected to the yoke attachment thread. Additionally, a back hub is provided at a proximal end of the instrument tip assembly and includes a rib or ribs provided on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the back hub. The rib or ribs projecting from the one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the back hub and engages the second thread of the shaft to from an attachment thread.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/944,981 filed Jul. 18, 2013 which is a division of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/451,046, filed Apr. 19, 2012, the disclosures of whichincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates generally to an actuating instrumenthaving an instrument tip assembly that is provided with a back hub and amethod of connecting the instrument tip assembly to the actuatinginstrument. These actuating instruments are often used in technicalfields that require a high degree of precision, e.g., precision cuttingand grasping in a surgical environment, and precision cutting andgrasping of wires or the like.

II. Discussion of the Background Art

In conventional actuating instruments (e.g., those used in surgicalprocedures or for any other type of implementation which requiresprecision usage) it is necessary to replace, e.g., cutting blades(intended for single-usage) with new and sharper blades, in which caseit is economically feasible to merely remove the tip of the instrumentand replace it with a new tip, rather than discarding the entireinstrument.

The practice of reprocessing and reusing single-use devices (SUDs) hasbecome increasingly more common because of costs savings and thereduction in waste. However, reprocessed SUDs, such as cutting blades,often do not function as well as SUDs that have not been reprocessed.For example, in the case of reprocessing a cutting blade, the blade maybe damaged in the reprocessing process such that the cutting blade nolonger cuts or opens and closes with the desired or required precision.Therefore, a reprocessed tip, such as those including a cutting blade,may not operate as well after reprocessing. Therefore, it is possiblethat any subpar operation of the reprocessed tip may be incorrectlyattributed to the original manufacturer of the reprocessed tip, whichmay result in damage to the reputation of the original manufacturer.

Furthermore, in certain instances there are stigmas attached to reusingreprocessed devices and many users wish to avoid using reprocesseddevices.

Additionally, actuating instruments such as cauterization tools,laparoscopes, electrified instruments (e.g., those used in a surgicalenvironment) and the like which generally include a tube having a distalend onto which a tip is attached, the tip including a actuable tool forthe medical procedure, surgical procedure, or other implementation to beperformed, and a proximal end for connection to mechanical and/orelectrical systems and which is operated by the surgeon or othertechnician performing a procedure or otherwise operating, have beenwidely used because the incision or opening necessary for insertion ofsuch a tool on a actuating instrument is typically small in comparisonto alternative methods. As a result of the relatively smaller incision,when used, e.g., in a surgical or medical environment, patientstypically exhibit more rapid healing times and often experience fewercomplications as a result of surgeries using such actuating instruments.

A typical actuating instrument of this class may include at least twodetachable portions—the tip having the actuable tool as one of thedetachable portions, and the tube leading from the distal end back tothe proximal end as the other. Further, such actuating instruments mayinclude an inner tube leading from the proximal end to the tube end ofthe tube at the distal end for connecting to a yoke which is part of thedetachable tip. Because proper operation of the tool on the tip mayrequire precise mechanical shifting of the inner tube and yoke inrelation to the tube and housing of the tip, one method that has beenused to provide the necessary differentiation when connecting the tip tothe tube end has been the use of two sets of threading with mutuallydifferential pitches, respectively on the connections between the yokeof the tip and the inner shaft of the tube end on the one hand, and ahousing or casing of the tip and an outer tube of the tube end, on theother hand.

As a result, however, as shown in FIG. 5 of the conventional art, thetwo threadings of different pitches require fine machining during themanufacturing process, within tolerances that are difficult to achieveusing automation and which may tend to increase the cost ofmanufacturing of such actuating instruments or medical devices. Forexample, after an initial machining of the threading, it may benecessary to test and make adjustments several times by hand, whichrequires skilled machinists as well as additional iterative steps, whichincrease the time for manufacture considerably. Furthermore, the use ofthreading requires the surgeon or medical technician performing aprocedure with the actuating instrument or medical device to intricatelyalign the two threadings of different pitch when assembling the tip tothe tube end. Such an operation may increase the time necessary todetach and/or reattach tips to tube ends during, e.g. a medicalprocedure or any other implementation and therefore increase the costsand risks associated with the medical procedure or other implementation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a self-threading feature on a back hubof a tip assembly to indicate or ensure single-usage of the tip assemblyand prevent or eliminate the ability to reprocess the tip assembly.Further, the self-threading feature eliminates the need for precisionthreaded connecting threads (i.e., which connect the tip assembly to theremainder of the actuating instrument) that are currently machine moldedin the back hub and the intricacies associated therewith.

These and other features of the present disclosure will be apparent fromreview of the specification and accompanying drawings.

Accordingly, a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosureprovides an actuating instrument (e.g., a surgical or other mechanicalinstrument) having an instrument tip assembly. The instrument tipassembly may include a yoke attachment thread. Further, the actuatinginstrument may include an actuator having an actuating shaft. In thisregard, the actuating shaft may have a first thread provided within theactuating shaft and a second thread provided on the actuating shaft. Thefirst thread may be connected to the yoke attachment thread.Additionally, a back hub may be provided at a proximal end of theinstrument tip assembly. Further, the back hub may have a rib or ribsprovided on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the back huband the rib or ribs may project from the one of the inner surface andthe outer surface of the back hub. Accordingly, the rib or ribs mayengage the second thread of the shaft to form an attachment thread.

In an additional feature, the rib or ribs may include a plurality oflongitudinal extending projections that are spaced apart from each otherin a circumferential direction of the back hub. Also, the rib or ribsmay include a plurality of circumferentially extending andlongitudinally spaced projections provided, e.g., on an inner or anouter surface of the back hub.

In another feature, the rib or ribs may deform upon engagement with thesecond thread to form the attachment thread. Further, an actuable toolmay be provided at a distal end of the instrument tip assembly.

In a further aspect, each of the plurality of longitudinal extendingprojections may be semicircular in cross-section. Additionally, theplurality of longitudinally extending projections may be equally spacedapart in the circumferential direction of the back hub.

In an additional aspect, the second thread may be provided as anexterior thread provided on an outer surface of the actuating shaft andthe rib or ribs may project inwardly from the inner surface of the backhub to engage the exterior thread and form the attachment thread. Inthis respect, the inner surface of the back hub may be configured toreceive the exterior thread. Additionally, the rib or ribs may comprisea plurality of circumferentially extending projections that are spacedapart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the back hub.Furthermore, the rib or ribs may comprise a plurality of longitudinalextending projections that are spaced apart from each other in acircumferential direction of the back hub.

Additionally, the second thread may be an internal thread providedwithin the actuating shaft at a front end of the first thread and therib or ribs may project outwardly from the outer surface of the back hubto engage the internal thread and form the attachment thread. In thisrespect, the internal thread may receive at least a portion of the backhub that is provided with the outwardly projecting ribs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is further described in the detail descriptionwhich follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings, by wayof non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure, in which like characters represent like elements throughoutthe several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side view of an actuating instrument according to anon-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a side view of a tip assembly of the actuating instrument;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the instrument tip assembly;

FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the instrument tip assembly of FIG. 2Ataken along A-A;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the detail C of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3A is a partial cutaway perspective view of the back hub of theaccordingly to a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-section of the back hub taken in a directionperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the back hub;

FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the detail A in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3D is a sectional view of the back hub of FIGS. 3A and 3B, takenalong B-B in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another non-limiting embodiment of theback hub according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of yet another non-limiting embodiment ofthe back hub according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an instrument tip assembly in accordance with the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present disclosureonly and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to bethe most useful and readily understood description of the principles andconceptual aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard, no attemptis made to show structural details of the present disclosure in moredetail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of thepresent disclosure, the description taken with the drawings makingapparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of thepresent disclosure may be embodied in practice.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the actuating instrument may include an actuator62 having an actuating shaft 100. In this regard, the tool 505 may openand/or close (or may be otherwise operated) by the movement of the innershaft 100 relative to the tube 2. For example, an actuator and actuatorshaft may be actuated as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,358,508, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated byreference herein.

Referring to the drawings, as shown in FIG. 2A-2C. the instrument tipassembly 500 may include a yoke attachment thread 500 a and theactuating instrument may include an actuator 62 having an actuatingshaft 100. In this regard, the actuating shaft 100 (as shown by thedotted lines in FIG. 1) may have a first thread 519 (as shown by thedotted line in FIG. 1B), e.g., an interior thread provided on an innersurface of the actuating shaft 100 and a second tread 520, e.g., anexterior thread, as shown in FIG. 1B, provided on an outer surface ofthe actuating shaft 100.

In this regard, the first 519 and second threads 520 may be formed ofany suitable material. For example, a hard plastic or thermoplasticmaterial or any other suitable metal capable of establishing a threadedconnection.

The first thread 519 of the actuating shaft 100 may be connected to theyoke attachment thread 500 a. For example, the first thread of theactuating shaft 100 may be screwed onto the attachment thread 500 aprovided on an outer surface of the yoke 550. The yoke 550 may bereceived within a yoke support 620. The instrument tip assembly may beprovided with an outer covering 530 surrounding the support 620 and aportion of the back hub 510. See FIG. 2B.

Additionally, a back hub 510 may be provided at a proximal end of theinstrument tip assembly 500, as shown in FIGS. 1A through 2C. Further,the back hub 510 may have one or more ribs 510 a provided on one of aninner surface or an outer surface of the back hub 510 and the rib orribs 510 a may project from the one of the inner surface and the outersurface of the back hub 510. See FIGS. 3 a-3 d. The rib or ribs 510 amay engage the second thread (e.g., an exterior thread) 520 of the shaftto from an attachment thread.

For example, the exterior thread (when provided as the second thread520) may be provided on an outer surface of the actuating shaft 100 andthe rib or ribs 510 a may project inwardly from the inner surface of theback hub 510 to engage the exterior thread 520 and form the attachmentthread. Accordingly, the inner surface of the back hub 510 may beconfigured to receive the exterior thread 520. See FIG. 3A.

Furthermore, the rib or ribs 510 a may be formed integral with the backhub 510 and made of the same material as the material of the back hub510.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the rib or ribs 510 a may beunitarily or integrally formed with the back hub 510 and made of adifferent material or of a same material having a different hardness.Additionally, the rib or ribs 510 a may be formed by injection moldingor extrusion molding. Furthermore, the rib or ribs 510 a may be formedof any suitable material capable of being deformed by the material ofthe exterior thread.

The rib or ribs 510 a may deform upon engagement with the exteriorthread 520 to form the attachment thread. In this regard, the rib orribs 510 a may be plastically (i.e., such that the rib or ribs cannotreturn to its original form prior to engagement with the exteriorthread) or elastically deformed as the rib or ribs 510 a progressivelyengages the exterior thread 520 of the shaft 100. For example, whenattaching the tip assembly 500 to the actuating shaft 100, the threadson the yoke 550 may engage the actuating shaft threads (i.e., theinterior threads not shown), thereby drawing the back hub 510 towards aproximal end of the actuating shaft 100. This action forces the exteriorthreads 520 to engage the rib or ribs 510 a in the back hub 510 creatingthe attachment thread, thereby providing a secure coupling to the handpiece during use.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 a-3 d, the rib or ribs may include aplurality of longitudinal extending projections (or plurality of ribs)that are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction ofthe back hub.

Accordingly, upon engagement of the exterior threads 520 with the rib orribs 510 a, the rib or ribs may be deformed such that a plurality of ribsegments is formed in each rib or ribs 510 a. In this regard, each ofthe plurality of rib segments may be interposed within the space betweencorresponding adjacent threads of the exterior threads 520, therebyforming an attachment thread. Thus, in accordance with the presentdisclosure, the rib or ribs 510 a may extend generally perpendicular toa diametrical direction of the exterior threads 520.

Accordingly, because the attachment thread may be formed as the tipassembly 500 is attached to the hand piece 62 and the rib or ribs 510 amay be plastically deformed, the back hub 500 cannot be reattached withthe same security to the actuating instrument upon removal.

Thus, the present disclosure prevents reprocessing the tip assembly 500.That is, since the rib or ribs 510 a may be plastically deformed toprovide the attachment threads, when the tip assembly 500 is removedfrom the actuating instrument the rib or ribs will no longer be able tosecurely attach the tip assembly 500 to the actuating instrument,thereby eliminating impermissible or undesirable reuse of the tipassembly 500. That is, the present disclosure ensures single usage of anintended SUD.

In other words, the actuating instrument of the present disclosure maybe configured so as to provide a secure connection by progressivelydeforming previously un-deformed rib or ribs that are brought intoengagement with exterior threads. Therefore, upon removal of the tipassembly 500 from the actuating instrument the rib or ribs will havebeen deformed due to the previous engagement with the exterior threads.Thus, it would be difficult or impossible to reestablish a secureconnection between the tip assembly 500 and the exterior threads 520 by,e.g., attempting to screw the yoke attachment of the tip assembly ontothe exterior threads of the actuator shaft, thereby effectively limitingthe tip assembly 500 to a single use.

Further, a surgical tool 505 or any other tool may be provided at adistal end of the instrument tool assembly. Among the various surgicaltools which may be part of the tip are, for example, electrifiedscalpels, shears, grasping tools, cauterization tools, laparoscopictools, and the like.

In a further aspect, each of the plurality of longitudinal extendingribs or projections may be semicircular in cross-section, as shown inFIG. 3 c. Additionally, the plurality of longitudinally extending ribsmay be equally spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the backhub, as shown in FIG. 3 b

Further, the second thread 520 may be provided as an internal threadwithin the actuating shaft 100 at a front end of the first thread 519and the rib or ribs 510 a may project outwardly from the outer surfaceof the back hub 510 to engage the second thread (e.g., the internalthread) 520 and form the attachment thread. In this respect, theinternal thread 520 may receive at least a portion of the back hub 510that is provided with the outwardly projecting ribs 510 a. See FIG. 4A.Additionally, the rib or ribs may comprise a plurality ofcircumferentially extending projections 510 a that are spaced apart fromeach other in a longitudinal direction of the back hub 510. See FIG. 4A.Furthermore, the rib or ribs may comprise a plurality of longitudinalextending projections 510 a that are spaced apart from each other in acircumferential direction of the back hub. See FIG. 4B.

Further, when the rib or ribs are provided on an outer surface of thehub this aspect provides easy viewing and determination of whether thetip assembly has been previously used. That is, since the markings ordeformation of the rib or ribs 510 caused by engagement with the thread520 will be readily apparent. Further, it should be appreciated, thatunless otherwise noted, other operations and features in each embodimentmay be the same or similar.

However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize thatany suitable feature for establishing the connections may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

It is further noted that the foregoing examples have been providedmerely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construedas limiting of the present disclosure. While the present disclosure hasbeen described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that the words which have been used herein are words ofdescription and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changesmay be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presentlystated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe present disclosure in its aspects. Although the present disclosurehas been described herein with reference to particular means, materialsand embodiments, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited tothe particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present disclosure extendsto all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An actuating instrument, comprising: an instrument tip assembly having a yoke attachment thread; an actuator having an actuating shaft, the actuating shaft having a first thread provided within the actuating shaft and a second thread provided on the actuating shaft, wherein the first thread is connected to the yoke attachment thread; and a back hub provided at a proximal end of the instrument tip assembly, the back hub having a rib provided on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the back hub, wherein the rib projects from the one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the back hub, and wherein the rib engages the second thread of the shaft to form an attachment thread.
 2. The actuating instrument according to claim 1, wherein the rib deforms upon engagement with the second thread to form the attachment thread.
 3. The actuating instrument according to claim 1, wherein a surgical tool is provided at a distal end of the instrument tip assembly.
 4. The actuating instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second thread is an exterior thread provided on an outer surface of the actuating shaft and the rib projects inwardly from the inner surface of the back hub to engage the exterior thread and form the attachment thread, the inner surface of the back hub receiving the exterior thread.
 5. The actuating instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second thread is an internal thread provided within the actuating shaft at a front end of the first thread and the rib projects outwardly from the outer surface of the back hub to engage the internal thread and form the attachment thread, the internal thread receiving a portion of the back hub that is provided with the outwardly projecting ribs.
 6. An instrument tip assembly for an actuating instrument, the instrument tip assembly comprising: a yoke attachment thread provided at a proximal end of the instrument tip assembly, the yoke attachment thread configured to be connected to a first thread provided within an actuating shaft of an actuator of an actuating instrument; a back hub provided at a proximal end of the instrument tip assembly, the back hub having a rib provided on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the back hub, wherein the rib projects from one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the back hub, and wherein the rib is configured to engage with a second thread provided on the actuating shaft to form an attachment thread.
 7. The instrument tip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the rib deforms upon engagement with the second thread to form the attachment thread.
 8. The instrument tip assembly according to claim 6, wherein a surgical tool is provided at a distal end of the instrument tip assembly.
 9. The instrument tip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the back hub and the rib are formed integrally and of a same material.
 10. The instrument tip assembly according claim 9, wherein the material of the back hub has a greater hardness than the material of the rib.
 11. The instrument tip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the back hub and the rib are formed integrally and of a different material.
 12. The actuating instrument according to claim 6, wherein the second thread is an exterior thread provided on an outer surface of the actuating shaft and the rib projects inwardly from the inner surface of the back hub to engage the exterior thread and form the attachment thread, the inner surface of the back hub receiving the exterior thread.
 13. The actuating instrument according to claim 6, wherein the second thread is an internal thread provided within the actuating shaft at a front end of the first thread and the rib projects outwardly from the outer surface of the back hub to engage the internal thread and form the attachment thread, the internal thread receiving a portion of the back hub that is provided with the outwardly projecting ribs.
 14. A method of assembling an actuating instrument, the method comprising: providing an instrument tip assembly having a yoke attachment thread; providing an actuator having an actuating shaft, the actuating shaft having a first thread provided within the actuating shaft and second thread provided on the actuating shaft; providing a back hub at a proximal end of the instrument tip assembly, the back hub having a rib provided on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the back hub, wherein the rib projects from the one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the back hub; screwing the first thread onto the yoke attachment thread such that the back hub is drawn towards a proximal end of actuating shaft and the rib progressively engages the second thread of the shaft, thereby deforming the rib to form an attachment thread.
 15. The method of assembling the medical device according to claim 14, wherein the rib is plastically deformed.
 16. The actuating instrument of claim 1, wherein the actuating instrument comprises a medical device.
 17. The instrument tip assembly of claim 6, wherein the instrument tip assembly is configured to be used in a medical device.
 18. The method of assembling the actuating instrument of claim 14, wherein the actuating instrument comprises a medical device. 